PM to Consult CMs on Replacing Plan Panel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to seek the opinion of chief ministers on formation of the new institution which will replace Planning Commission.

Modi wants to make states active partners in finalizing the shape and contours of the new body.

States’ views are crucial because BJP government has indicated that state representatives are expected to have a dominant role in the new institution.

It will also have sectoral experts from private sector and government.

With Modi keen on cooperative federalism, an official said some chief ministers could be part of the new body.

The step is in the direction of PM’s idea of making states equal partners in growth.

Earlier, Planning Commission used to act as an interface between the central government and states.

The move came after the BJP government held several consultation with experts, policy makers and analysts after Modi in his maiden Independence Day speech announced scrapping of the Planning Commission, a relic of the Nehru era, and replacing it with a new body.

After the announcement, the wings of the commission were clipped as its role was gradually reduced.

All major ministries and departments were directed to furnish their plan budget estimates for 2015-16 directly to the finance ministry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while explaining why he had adopted Jayapur during his speech on Friday, had said it was because of five people of that village died of electrocution.

He said he wanted to be with its people in their hour of adversity.

But, the five people are alive, having survived that mishap.

Nonetheless, the survivors are hardly offended by the PM's faux pas.

In fact, one of them, Dimpy, 20, said that she survived because she was destined to see Modi in her village.